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Changing the Architecture of the Midwest: The Rise of Short Stature Corn

Is the the future of corn production standing a little shorter? In this episode of the Minnesota Cropcast, hosts Dave Nicolai and Dr. Seth Naeve sit down with Dr. Jeff Coulter, University of Minnesota Extension Corn Specialist, to explore a novel (and highly visual) shift in corn hybrid technology: short stature corn. While traditional corn towers at 9 to 12 feet, new hybrids are keeping the canopy at 7 feet or less—without sacrificing the yields growers require. Dr. Coulter breaks down the history, the agronomics, and the cutting-edge research happening right here in Minnesota. Highlights from this Cropcast Episode : The Physics of Standing Tall: Why shorter, fatter stalks and deeper root systems may provide added resistance to lodging and green snap during severe wind events. Populations Drive Higher Yields: How these compact plants tolerate higher plant populations, allowing growers to pack more plants per acre to drive up grain yield. The Silage Advantage: Why short stature corn m...
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University of Minnesota Extension Resources After Hail Events

Taylor Herbert, Extension Educator, Crops - Wright, McLeod, Meeker Counties Seth Naeve, Extension Soybean Agronomist and Professor of Agronomy and Plant Genetics Jeff Coulter, Extension Corn Agronomist and Professor of Agronomy and Plant Genetics Dave Nicolai, Extension Educator, Crops Matt Pfarr, Extension Educator, Crops Area Storms Bring Hail Damage Reports of hail associated with the strong storms that blew through much of the south central part of the state on Tuesday June 23rd reached our team of crops Extension Educators. In particular, a narrow band from Cosmos, MN in southern Meeker county to south of highway 212 in Glencoe was particularly hit. While some areas had pea sized hail that gathered in piles on the ground, some 1.5 to 2 inch sized hail was also reported. Field scouts found varying degrees of damage in both corn and soybeans from leaf shredding to complete removal of biomass down to the stalk.  While instinct can push farmers toward action, often the best thing ...
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Register now for the University of Minnesota Field School to Enhance your Crop Problem Solving Skills

Practicing soybean staging and insect scouting techniques By: Matt Pfarr, Extension educator-crops and Dave Nicolai, Extension educator-crops The 2026 Field School for Ag Professionals will be held July 29 and 30 at the University of Minnesota Agriculture Experiment Station in St. Paul. This two-day event is the premier summer training opportunity that combines hands-on, interactive training with real world field scenarios.  Book now before July 1st to secure summer professional development at the lowest price . Class sizes will be capped to provide instructor access. Register today and lock in your spot. The first day of the Field School program focuses on core principles in agronomy, entomology, weed and soil sciences to build a strong foundation of skills and knowledge. The second day builds on this foundation with timely, cutting-edge topics that participants can select. This program is targeted toward agronomists, crop production retailers, seed dealers, consultants, crop pro...
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Rochester Crop Management Tour, Tuesday June 30, 2026

   Be sure to put Tuesday, June 30, 2026 on your calendar for the Rochester Crop Management Tour! See what's new and on the horizon in corn and soybean weed management, tour herbicide and cover crop trials, and get updates on crop pests.  Tour stops, topics, and speakers Minnesota waterhemp herbicide resistance update: 2,4-D, Dicamba, Glufosinate Dr. Debalin Sarangi - Extension Weed Scientist Corn and soybean herbicide evaluations Storen® and Acuron® Flexi herbicide rate trial Revisiting use of Group 15 herbicides in soybean production Ryan Miller – Crops Educator, University of MN Extension Managing spray water quality: Corn herbicide pH adjustment trial results Dr. Eric Yu – Crops Educator, University of Minnesota Extension Cover crops as a tool for weed management Liz Stahl – Crops Educator, University of Minnesota Extension Cover crop termination timing, water use, and soybean yield Sithin Mathew – Graduate student, University of Minnesota applied weed science Other t...
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Register for the 2026 Irrigation and Nutrient Management Field Day – July 9th at the Sand Plain Research Farm!

By: Vasu Sharma, Extension irrigation specialist, Department of Soil, Water and Climate University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota Potato Growers Association (MNPGA) are pleased to announce the upcoming 2026 Irrigation and Nutrient Management Field Day. This event will showcase advanced agricultural practices and the latest field research conducted at the Sand Plain Research Farm (SPRF) in Becker, MN. Participants will have the opportunity to learn directly from University of Minnesota researchers and specialists. A complimentary dinner will be provided at the research station headquarters at the conclusion of the field tour. Event Details Date & Time Thursday, July 9th, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dinner immediately follows the tour. Location:  Sand Plain Research Farm, 15003 157th St. SE, Becker, MN 55308 (Map) Cost:  This field day is free to attend, but please register by July 6th for planning purposes Featured Presentations & Research Topics The fi...
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Small Grains Disease and Pest Update 06/22/26

This week's update is a carbon copy of last week - the fields are all but void of disease and pests of any kind, and growing conditions are near-ideal for small grains with intermittent but spotty rain showers. Therefore, the advice remains the same as last week. Oats - If you did not apply a fungicide to control crown rust when the flag leaf had just fully extended, apply a fungicide at Feekes 10.5 (fully headed)  to protect the crop against crown rust for the remainder of the season.  There is little incentive/need to switch to a premium fungicide to also try to suppress FHB, given that the overall risk appears to be relatively low Spring barley - Apply a fungicide at Feekes 10.5 (fully headed) to suppress FHB and control net blotch on varieties rated susceptible or very susceptible to net blotch. There is little incentive to use one of the premium fungicides to suppress FHB. Winter wheat - Apply a fungicide at Feekes 10.51 (beginning of anthesis) if you find either tan sp...
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Strategic Farming Field Notes: Sugar beets and disease management

June 22, 2026 By Claire LaCanne, University of Minnesota Extension Educator – Crops, Tom Peters, University of Minnesota Extension Sugarbeet Agronomist, and Dean Malvick, University of Minnesota Extension Field Crops Pathologist During the June 17 Strategic Farming: Field Notes webinar, Extension specialists Tom Peters and Dean Malvick discussed updates in sugar beet and disease management, moderated by Anthony Hanson, Extension Educator - Integrated Pest Management. The session highlighted updates and challenges for sugar beet management, including pest management and the onset of disease pressure. Overview of sugar beets in Minnesota We grow about 1,100,000 acres of sugar beets in the United States. All of our sugar beets are processed into sugar that is part of our diets. In Minnesota and North Dakota, we grow about 635,000 acres of sugar beets, which represents about 60% of the acreage that is in the United States. Sugar beets are usually grown in a rotation that includes grass and...
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